Operator Roundup: MTNL-Telekom Kenya; Airtel-Sri Lanka And Vietnam

– Bharti Airtel Lanka, a subsidiary of India’s Bharti Airtel said that it intends to invest $200 million in the Sri Lankan market over the next five years, reports Bloomberg. It plans to launch both 2G and 3G services by the April 2008, under the Airtel brand. Sri Lanka has a mobile penetration of around 30 percent, and is growing at around 2 million subs a month. Airtel is the fifth operator in Sri Lanka, and the Bloomberg article gives an overview of the market scenario in the country.

– MTNL also intends to bid for a 51 percent stake in Telkom Kenya, reports ET. They had earlier reported that Airtel, Reliance Communications and the Tatas were also going to bid for that stake, alongwith British Telecom, France Telecom, Telkom South Africa and Dubai-based Vtel Holding. Currently, MTNL holds stake in United Telecom in Nepal, and offers mobile, landline and long distance services in Mauritius.

– Airtel is also considering launching operations in Vietnam, reports ET. However, the company is not considering a buyout. Currently, Vietnam allows foreign ownership of 49 percent in telecom companies, and intends to allow complete foreign ownership of telecom firms by 2010. Vodafone, France Telecom and Norway’s Telenor are also exploring possibilities in Vietnam, while the government is looking to offload 49% stake in two telecom companies – Vinafone and Mobifone. More here.